POCKET STEREOSCOPE (Jul, 1933)

This looks like an early Viewmaster.

POCKET STEREOSCOPE SHOWS VIEWS ON FILM

Gone is the old-fashioned parlor stereoscope of a generation ago, but its counterpart, in modern guise, has just made its appearance. The new pocket-sized form of the instrument, illustrated above, is as small as a pair of opera glasses and uses thirty-five-millimeter motion picture film instead of paper photographs. A shift lever causes the pictures to appear.

I own one of these (or one really similar). I found it an antique store; it came with one roll of images (but the roll has been stored for so long that I don’t dare to try to unroll it) – its about the same vintage, from what I remember. I consider it a part of my “virtual reality” collection…

Toronto says: May 12, 20108:56 pm

Post Cereal gave away somewhat similar 3d viewers in the early ’60s. If I recall, you got the viewer for 3 box tops, and a slide or two in every box. Probably half-frame 35mm film.

I had a whole set of dinosaur slides. Post cereals were mostly crap, but they had the best bonuses and the best cartoons.

(Actually, Shredded Wheat/Shreddies had the best promotional items – things like checker sets and sets of fighter planes (1:288 or smaller), etc. But what kid ate those?)